Friendly people are priceless, and are truly a gift from God, and in Tijuana, you won't friend any…read morefriendlier folks than the ladies that work at Lonchería Las Rosas, located in Tijuana's Zona Centro. In October, 2018, on a beautiful Sunday morning, I had the pleasure of enjoying a large bowl of some of the best menudo in Tijuana at Las Rosas, and getting the opportunity to know Olivia and Melissa, the friendly staff who run the restaurant.
Lonchería Las Rosas is located in a tiny, hole-in-the-wall store, with a front to the sidewalk of maybe 12 feet wide. It's located on Av. Negrete, just a few doors south of Calle Articulo 123, which is the route that most American tourists take when they walk from the border to downtown Tijuana to party. I doubt that many gringos even notice Lonchería Las Rosas, must less stop in. Lonchería Las Rosas has a slogan painted on their sign which reads, "Comida Corrida y A La Carta," which translates to "fast food and a la carte." Like many small diners in Tijuana, and Mexico, the restaurant is open to the street for your dining pleasure.
Lonchería Las Rosas does not have a posted menu, and they serve typical Mexican diner fare of menudo, pozole, beans, eggs, bacon chorizo, tamales, and of course, tacos. The friendly manager of the restaurant, Olivia was quick to point out to me that she'll be happy to prepare for me anything that I want. Next trip, I plan to stop by and enjoy a plate of bacon, beans, eggs and corn tortillas, which is one of my favorite breakfasts.
Speaking of menu... like most small loncherias in Mexico, there is no printed menu. If you something in mind, just ask the friendly staff. If they have the ingredients on hand - which is most likely - they'll cheerfully fill your order. Another thing to consider... you're in Mexico, and you'll enoy your visit a lot more if you speak at least a little Spanish, and the staff will treat you like family when you speak the language of Mexico.
On this Sunday morning, I went with a bowl of some of the best menudo that you'll find in Tijuana, from Loncheria Las Rosas. I've already added onion, chili pepper, cilantro and lime juice to enhance this amazing bowl of menudo.
Olivia keeps a big pot of menudo simmering on the back burner of their range, and she starts the day very early in the morning to get the menudo going. Her efforts is worth it, as this menudo features savory, brick-red broth, lots of tripe, and lots of hominy, which make for a great bowl of menudo. Add to the t.l.c. and charm that Olivia adds, and you have an academy award-winning bowl of menudo.
My breakfast was a huge bowl of menudo, with all of the garnishes, and a stack of corn tortillas, which I paid MEX $48.00 for, which is slightly over US $4.00; quite a bargain. Lonchería Las Rosas does not make the tortillas in-house, but the tortillas are purchased fresh from a nearby tortilla. Olivia told me that she sends Melissa over to the torterilla several times a day when they start running low on tortillas. The menudo came from a big pot that was simmering on the stove, and Olivia told me that she had made the menudo earlier in the day. It has been a long time since I had enjoyed a breakfast of delicious menudo, and the menudo served at Lonchería Las Rosas is some of the best that I've ever tasted. Both ladies smiled and thanked me when I told them how delicious the menudo was. They were so friendly and nice that I left a 5 dollar bill as a tip.
Loncheria Las Rosas is as good as it gets, as the staff is amazingly friendly, the food is delicious, the price is beyond reasonable, and the diner is a neighborhood "hang-out" for all the locals, who enjoy great conversation and great food. When you're in the mood for amazing Mexican diner cuisine, pay a visit to Loncheria Las Rosas, in Tijuana's Zona Centro.
This isn't a fancy restaurant, as it's just a hole-in-the-wall Tijuana diner. But the staff is SO friendly, the food is SO delicious, and the atmosphere is... priceless. Loncheria Las Rosas is 5 star in my book!
